Shrub rose plant named ‘Radral’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive double cuplike blossoms that are orange and finish to light coral-salmon coloration. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is rounded and fairly loose. Attractive ornamental green foliage having a glossy appearance is formed which tends to be bronze-red when immature. The resistance to secondary leafspot and powdery mildew has been excellent during observations to date. The hardiness of the new variety also is excellent. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as distinctive ornamentation in parks, gardens, and residential settings.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Radral.

Summary of the Invention

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant of the present invention was created at Greenfield, Wisc. U.S.A., by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Radorg’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the ‘Rader’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Radorg’ ×‘Rader’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive         double cuplike blossoms that are orange and finish to light         coral-salmon coloration,     -   (b) exhibits a rounded and fairly loose growth habit,     -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (d) abundantly forms attractive ornamental green foliage with a         glossy appearance that is bronze-red when immature,     -   (e) exhibits excellent resistance to secondary leafspot and         powdery mildew, and     -   (f) exhibits excellent cold hardiness.

The new variety displays a good repeat blooming character. The growth habit is very vigorous and the canes commonly are of medium to heavy caliper.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as an attractive shrub rose plant in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The orange blossoms contrast nicely with the glossy green foliage.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Unlike the new variety the ‘Radorg’ variety displays a more uniform growth habit and forms smaller blossoms. Also, the ‘Radorg’ variety tends to form less colorful young foliage and is less resistant to secondary leafspot and powdery mildew. The ‘Rader’ variety forms dissimilar red blossoms having more petals and tends to form less colorful young foliage.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A., and elsewhere, to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexual propagation, such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces in a true-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Radral’ and is being marketed under the CAREFREE CELEBRATION trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of the new variety. A mature flowering plant is shown during the summer while growing in a container at Greenfield, Wisc. U.S.A. The attractive orange blossoms and glossy foliage are displayed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of the Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of three-year-old specimens of the new variety during September while growing outdoors on their own roots near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 4 to 5 feet on average at the end of             the growing season, and commonly assumes a mature height of             approximately 5.5 feet.         -   Width.—Approximately 5.5 feet on average at the end of one             growing season, and commonly continues to display             approximately the same width at full maturity.         -   Habit.—Rounded and fairly loose. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: commonly between Greyed-Orange Group             175A and Yellow-Green Group 146C. Adult wood: primarily             Greyed-Orange Group 175A with some Green Group 137D.         -   Texture.—Young stems: smooth. Adult wood: smooth.         -   Caliper.—Canes are medium to heavy caliper.         -   Thorns.—On young stems: commonly bear several thorns             averaging between 0.5 to 5 mm in length, and near Greyed-Red             Group 182A in coloration. On mature wood: commonly bear             large as well as small prickles that are Greyed-Red Group             182A in coloration. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaflet number.—3, 5, and 7.         -   Leaflet texture.—With a glossy finish.         -   Leaflet size.—Commonly approximately 4 to 5 cm in length on             average, and approximately 3 to 4 cm in width on average at             the widest point.         -   Leaflet shape.—Oval to somewhat ovate with acute to somewhat             acuminate apices, and rounded bases.         -   Leaflet margins.—Serrulate.         -   Leaf size.—Commonly approximately 9.5 to 14.5 cm in length             on average, and approximately 10.5 cm in width on average at             the widest point.         -   Overall appearance.—Very abundant, and medium green with a             glossy finish.         -   Color. —Young leaves: upper surfaces commonly are between             Green Group 139A and Yellow-Green Group 147A and lightly             suffused with near Greyed-Purple Group 183B and             Greyed-Purple Group 187C, and under surfaces commonly are             between Green Group 139C and Yellow-Green Group 147B and             moderately suffused with near Greyed-Purple Group 183B and             Greyed-Purple Group 187C. Mature leaves: upper surfaces             commonly are between Green Group 139A and Yellow-Green Group             147A, and under surfaces commonly are between Yellow-Green             Group 147B and 147C.         -   Stipules.—Configuration: commonly possess moderately narrow             medium to long points that turn out of an angle of more than             45 degrees. Length: commonly approximately 2 to 2.5 cm.             Width: commonly approximately 0.8 cm at the widest portion             of the body. Coloration: near Green Group 138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: commonly approximately 3.7 cm on average.             Diameter: commonly approximately 2 mm on average. Texture:             slightly bristling. Color: Green Group 138A.         -   Rachis.—Average in caliper, the upper surface commonly is             moderately grooved with some stipitate glands and tiny hairs             on the edges of the grooves, and the underside commonly is             somewhat rough with a few stipitate glands and numerous             small prickles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Peduncle.—Bearing: typically erect and very strong.             Diameter: commonly Approximately 3 mm. Texture: smooth with             some stipitate glands and a few hairs. color: commonly             between Yellow-Green Group 144B and 144C, and sometimes             moderately suffused with between Greyed-Purple Group 183B             and 183C.         -   Sepals.—Length: commonly approximately 2.5 cm on average.             Width: commonly approximately 1 cm on average. Extensions:             commonly absent. Texture: the inner surface is lined and             edged with very fine wooly tomentum, and the margins             commonly are lined with a few stipitate glands and hairs.             Apex: acute. Color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A             fading to Yellow-Green Group 144C. Number: five.         -   Buds.—Shape: commonly very pointed to urn-shaped as the             calyx breaks. Length: as the calyx breaks commonly             approximately 2 to 2.5 cm on average. Diameter as the calyx             breaks commonly approximately 2 to 2.5 cm at the widest             point. Texture: commonly bears numerous stipitate glands and             some hairs. Color (as the calyx breaks): commonly between             Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B and often moderately             suffused with Greyed-Purple Group 183B and 183C.         -   Flower.—Form: semi-double and cup-shaped. Configuration:             when partially opened high-centered with the petals being             somewhat loosely spiraled and the petal edges being somewhat             slightly reflexed outwards, and when fully opened cup-shaped             to somewhat flat and the petal edges being flat to undulated             and very slightly reflexed outward, with the inner petals             being crinkled/ruffled. Diameter: commonly approximately 8.5             to 9 cm on average when fully open. Bearing: commonly in             clusters of up to approximately 5 blooms per cluster, with             the clusters being irregularly rounded and borne on medium             to long stems having lengths of approximately 20 to 30 cm.             Color (when opening begins): upper surface: near Red Group             38A and Red Group 39B, and at the base near Yellow-Orange             Group 14B. Under surface: near Red Group 43C and 43D, and at             the base near Yellow Group 13C. Color (when blooming): upper             surface: near Red Group 48C, near the base Orange Group 29B,             and at the point of attachment Yellow Group 13C. Under             surface: near Red Group 39B, near the base Orange-Red Group             32C, and at the point of attachment Yellow Group 13C. Color             (at end of blooming) upper surface: near Red Group 49B, and             near the base Yellow-Orange Group 14D. Under surface: near             Red Group 51C, and near the base Yellow Group 13D.             Lastingness: commonly approximately 4 or 5 days or more on             the plant depending upon environmental conditions, and             approximately 4 to 5 days when cut and placed in a vase.             Fragrance: strong citrus-rose. Petal form: substantially             round to very broadly obovate. Petal number: commonly             approximately 13 to 14 on average. Petal apex: commonly             rounded and sometimes notched with one or two notches. Petal             size: commonly approximately 3.5 cm in length on average and             approximately 3 cm in width on average. Petal texture:             medium to thick in substance, the upper surfaces commonly             are moderately velvety to satiny in appearance, and the             under surfaces are mostly satiny to somewhat satiny.             Petaloid number: commonly approximately 1 to 2 on average             per flower and arranged irregularly. Petaloid length:             commonly approximately 3.4 cm on average. Petaloid width:             commonly approximately 1.1 cm at the widest point. Petal             drop: very good, the petals commonly drop cleanly and             freely. Stamen number: approximately 165 to 170 on average             arranged regularly about the pistils. Anthers: approximately             1 mm in size. Anther color: commonly between Greyed-Orange             Group 167D and Greyed-Orange Group 168C when immature, and             Greyed-Orange Group 165A when mature. Filament length:             commonly approximately 7 to 12 mm, and most bear anthers.             Filament color Greyed-Orange Group 169C with Yellow-Orange             Group 17C at the base. Pollen: commonly is present in a             moderate to abundant quantity and commonly is near Yellow             Group 13B in coloration. Pistils: separate and free, and             commonly approximately 40 on average. Stigma color: commonly             between Yellow Group 8D and Yellow Group 9D. Styles:             moderately uneven in length, commonly approximately 4.5 mm             in length, and approximately 0.25 mm in diameter. Style             color commonly near Yellow Group 8D suffused with Red Group             46D.         -   Receptacle.—Configuration: ovoid. Size: commonly             approximately 7 mm in diameter on average. Texture: commonly             somewhat bristly on surface. Color: near Yellow-Green Group             146D. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.         -   Blossoming.—Very abundant and substantially continuous             during the growing season.         -   Resistance to diseases. —Excellent with respect to secondary             leafspot and powdery mildew, when compared to commercial             rose varieties being grown under comparable conditions near             West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.         -   Resistance to insects.—Excellent with respect to rose midge.         -   Cold hardiness. —Excellent, and has proven to be completely             winter hardy in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 5.

The new ‘Radral’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive double cuplike blossoms that are orange and finish to light coral-salmon coloration, (b) exhibits a rounded and fairly loose growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) abundantly forms attractive ornamental green foliage with a glossy appearance that is bronze-red when immature, (e) exhibits excellent resistance to secondary leafspot and powdery mildew, and (f) exhibits excellent cold hardiness; substantially as herein shown and described. 